Aug

16



Tip! Use a wire cross-locking snap when fishing crank plugs. It allows you to change lures quickly and enables the bait to vibrate more freely.

When approaching a new lake, it’s always a good idea to have a plan. Maps and lake reports are handy, but they aren’t always accurate and may not be the only thing you need. Sometimes you need that keen eye of an experienced angler to see the opportunities. Or just learn what that keen-eyed angler is looking for and duplicate.

Sometimes you may get lucky and find someone on the docks willing to give up some secrets. Older anglers are usually more than happy to pass on some of their tips, favorite tricks and spots.

I always use a system of gathered information. Here are a few tips to help your overall success on a new lake.

• As I have said before, keep it simple. The most basic fishing techniques work the same on most all lakes. They have done so in the past for a reason. If it works on one lake, chances are it will on others.

• Structure! Structure! Structure! Look for docks, standing timer, weeds and lily pads. Anything that creates shelter and camouflage for the fish is a good spot. Bass, especially largemouth are ambush hunters.

Tip! It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream so the flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish. The fisherman should make the cast from one side of the stream so the fly will only float over the fish.

• Confidence can be a great fishing tool to have in your tackle box also. If you go out to the lake with the mindset that you’re not going to catch a fish, your chances of catching a fish are going diminish greatly. Throw that lure like you’re a pro on the biggest tour of your life and before you know it, your catching fish like a pro.

• The shallows near a drop off or channel are always a good place to catch fish. The Bass species, which include the Sunfish and Bluegill, like to have that abrupt transition.

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• If you’re trying to catch a specific species find out what kind of habitat they require and look for it on the lake.

• The time of year has a lot to do with how the fish will bite. Two things make a major impact on what the fish are doing and how they will react: cold water and warm water. Cold water; slow your roll, Warm water; speed it up a bit.

• Don’t just throw your favorite lure because you like how fish strike it, or it happens to be your favorite color. Check the condition of the water. Is it clear or muddy? Is it cold or warm? Is the level rising or falling? Believe me, water conditions matter.

Tip! Check your line just above the lure frequently when fishing crankbaits around rocks, gravel, stumps, and other hard obstructions. They can quickly fray your line.

• As always, the local tackle shop is a great place for information. However, sometimes it’s hard to get good advice right before a big tournament. The person running the shop may fall into a rut and answer everybody the same, “Well so-and-so creek can be good this time of the year.” or “The fish have really been biting on this (Insert product here), which is on sale today.” Knowing when to ask the local tackle shop also comes with experience.

Water clarity is something else that will be a factor in going to a new lake. If you cannot see what is under the surface, it’s pretty hard to determine what to throw. If the water is muddy, throw out a nice dark color (I’m not a favorite of black or blue however, other are). Bladed Spinners are always a good way to “feel-out” the water. Something weed-less or snag-free well works in “testing out the waters” also.

Tip! This might be the first time that the family is going to the lake. It will be a good idea to ask if there is a guide that will be able to direct the people to the best fishing site.

My fishing buddy likes to go to a different lake each time we go fishing, which can be a bit difficult when you’re strapped for time or cash. However, experience comes from doing and the more lakes and ponds you can throw your lures into, the better.

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Well I do hope I have helped someone and just remember, on those rainy or bad days, do some research, ‘cause like the old saying goes, “Knowledge is Power”.

And as always, keep happy thoughts and good fishin’ to you.

Chris Curley lives in Nashville, IN. with his dog Piranah.

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  1. Joe Vincent on August 16, 2007 11:02 am

    Nice article Chris.

    I recently went through the steps in your article and was very successful.

    We vacationed at a cottage on a large pond/small lake (350 acres) in the northern Adirondacks.

    Before leaving, I wanted to have some idea of what/where to fish. Knowing that I would be limited to a rowboat or canoe and no electronics, I knew that I’d really need to do my research in order to be successful right away so I could make the most out of my time on the water.

    Have you ever tried to find a bottom coutour map of a lake like this? Not easy! I started by simply doing a ton of web searches, then map searches on topo map sites and navigation chart sites - no joy! Next, I popped the question on all of the fishing forums I belong to - generally the best places you can find for information… again, no joy. Nobody had fished it before. Finally, I found an outdoors forum for the Adirondacks and asked again. One of the guys pointed me to a site called Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, where they have information for pretty much every pond in the Adirondacks. Here I found a depth map - not real detailed, and probably not extremely accurate, but close enough to give me some ideas of the way the lake is layed out.

    Once we arrived, I had a chat with the neighbors. Not completely fishing specific, but by talking about the lake, I managed to put together a lot of very helpful information on some of the types of structure available.

    As your article stated in closing, knowledge is indeed a weapon. Armed with the information I had gathered, coupled with my own experience, I was able to fish 2 or 3 times a day for a couple hours at a time, all week long… and not get skunked once!!

    We were fishing for crappie to eat and bass for fun. Each time on the water, we’d catch 2 to 4 bass and5 or 6 big crappie (with a few bluegill thrown in for good measure). We didn’t limit our fishing to any one spot, but rather hit all the spots that were likely to hold fish, as based on the info I had gathered ahead of time.

    Your article should help out a lot of folks that are thinking about fishing a new body of water. After all, chances are, that if you’re unsuccessful on a body of water your first time out, you just might not return - even though that body of water has an excellent population of fish.

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